Tractor stop hitch with brake



G. DEN BESTEN TRACTOR STOP HITCH WITI'I BRAKE 2 Sheets-Sheec 1 Filed June 29, 1936 9m 1 C C H 8 w mm e. DEN BESTEN TRAC'TOR STOP HITCH WITH BRAKE Dec. 20, 1938.

Filed June 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 pressure is exerted on the arm 2I the anchor will tilt and clamp itself upon the bar 5 bufp when .forward pressure is exerted upon the oppositely body I2.

A clutch cable 24 is attached to the outer end of the arm 2I of the anchor and extends to the clutch 1ever 4 of the tractor to which it is con-' nected and is of the right length 1:0 just nicely span the distance between the c1utch lever 4 When it is in position 130 engage the clutch and the anchor 20 When the hitch is in normal pulling position with the anchor 20 sei; immediately acljacent the rear end of the body I2.

'A limit bar 25 is attached the outer end of the arm 22 and passes through an opening 0n the hitoh body which opening is enclosed on one side by a detachable plate 26. The forwarcl end of the limit bar 25 is turned outwardly so Chat it will engage the platze 26 and limit movemeht of the hitch body relative to the anchor and. When the hitch body has moved forwardly away from the anchor a predetermined distance, as hereafter describeo'l, the outturned end of the limit bar will engage the blade 26 exerting a forward pul1 on the arm 22 of the anohor tipping it and releasing its grip on 1;he bar 5 and sliding it forward on the bar. A manual pull cable 21 is attached to the forward end of the limit bar 25 and extends 130 the proximity of the tractor operator, as to the seat thereof, where it may be conveniently reached and pulled by the operator to move the anchor forwarolly for the purpose hereafter described.

4 The forward ends of the clutoh shoes I4 are provided With outwardly extending ears 30 which lie in the paths of moveme;nts of the prongs of the hooks I and. are engaged by said hooks and moved forwardly with the clutch shoes upon sufilcient compression of the cushion spring 9 to oause such engagement. When the hooks I engage the ears 30 and move the shoes I4 forwardly the roller engaging surfaces I3 and I5 are separatecl sufiicien'tly to release the elutch rollers I6 and. ease the clamping action of the shoes I4 on the draw bar 5 permitting them to slip on the dravv bar. 1

The hooks I may be provioled with adjusting spaceis 3I which straddle them and are for the purpose of adjusting the compression of' the spring 9 necessary 150 engage the ears 30 withthe hooks I. The spacers 3'I are interposed between the prongs of the hooks I and the ears 30 and When in use serve as forWard extensions of the prongs I. The hooks may be used without the spacers as illustratecl in Fig. 3 or with the number of spacers desired, two being shown in Fig. 5.

By adding spacers 3I the compression of the spring 9 to release the clutch shoes I4 is lessened.

Operation The hitch is adjusted for normal pulling with its body I2 near the rear end of the draw lbar 5 which is attached to t he implement as illustrated though f or backing the irnplement the parts Will move rearwardly until positively stopped as by engagemeni; of the anchor 20 With the connection tothe implement.

In this normal position the clutch throw out anchor 20 is immediately behind the body I2 of the hitch, it having automatically assumed this position by rearward movement of the hitch body on the draw bar 5. In this'position the cable 24 extends from the arm 2l and is of sufi1- cient length 130 permit the clutch lever 4 of the tractor to move t0 clutch engaging position.

In the normal positions above described the c1utch shoes I4 are in close engagement with the draw bar 5 and forward pull by the traptor through the unter draw bars 6 the shoulders 8 of the hooks I, the cushion spring 9 and. the housing parts I0 and I2 cause the clutch rollers I 6 to press the clutch shoes I4 into tight gripping engagement with the draw bar 5 suflicient to pull the implement I and these parts operate to pull. the implement under normal conditions, normal variations in the load of the implement being absorbecl by 'slight and normal compression of the spring 9, this normal compressioh beim; less than suflicient to engage the hooks l with the ears 30.

When the implement strikes an obstruction, such as the plow engaging a root or stone, and abnormal resistance is exerted by the implement the spring 9 will be compressed sufiiciently to cause the hooks I, 01 the adjusting spacers 3I thereon, to engage the ears 30 and move the clutch shoes I4 forwardly relative to the body portion I2 releasing the clutching action of the roller I5 sufficiently to permit 13he clutchshoes I4 to Slip on the draw bar 5 and this slipping permits the clutch body and the outer drawbars 5 attachedto the tractor to move forwardly on the draw bar 5 Which action permits the implement to remain stationary while the tracto moves away from it.

I-Iowever, it will be seen that this forvvard movement of the parts is under frictional engagement of the clutch shoes I4 With the draw bar 5 which resists the extension of the' clutch and serves as a brake on the tractor. In other words, the clutch shoes I4 cannot be moved 130 a position to wholly release their grip on thedraw bar 5 becaus e it is the resistance 130 forward movement of the clutchshoes which causes spring 9 130 be abnormally compressed. resulting in the releasing movement of the shoes and'if the shoes Therefore, the clutch shoes I4 are only releasecl suificiently to permitthem slip on the draw bar but still maintain suffi'cient frictional engagement and resistance moVement to cause the spring 9 to be abnormally compresed and it is "under such frictional resistance that the parts are extended and the brake is applied toth e tractor. The result ofchis action is;that When anabnormal load is applied to*the hitchsuffi-' 'cientlygreai;v I;o Slip the clutch shoes 'I4 by action of the partsabove described, this Same abnormal inent. o'fl-the;parts amply to disengage the y clutch so .-thatthe clutch may be reengagedby manually pulling the cable 21 which pulls on the limitbar 25,. andihe arm, 22 of the anchortipping it to releaseitand slideit-on the draw bar 5 toclose pr oximity with the rear encl of: the clutch-body- Whioh releases the cable: 24 andpermits movenient ofthe clutch lever=4 to, clutchengaging position.

. 'Ihis simple manual operation of pulling the olutchanchor-iorwardly elase to the clutchxbody may bejall that is necessary to put the-device into normaloperativa condition because if=the cluth has'n'ot been extended too great a distance it will again operate as previously desc'ribed.fromthe' gpositionf in.which il; has beenreset. uHowever,if

.it is desired to put the C1t0h parts backinto jrtheir-n'ormal-position With the.clutch bodynear During the reverse movement of the rear end 0f the-draw bar5 'it ismerely-ne'cessary ioba'ck thetractor which will slide all parts back to the position desiredand they will automaticallyassume their operative positiohs with0ut otheroperation or attehtionQ k the parts aboVe desCribed the hooks 1 engageprojectns 33 .ori Lhe body I'2 pushing the'body rearwardly which moves its inclined roller engaging faces I3 away from the o1utch-rollers l 6- thus fieeing the clutch -shbes M so that they mayslide on the bar 5 and theanchor 20 hasits forward proje'ction 23 engaged -by the rearendof thebody l2-which tips tlie a1ichor to releaSe bosition so that it may also slicle'freelyon the bar'5.

' 'j \v ard e xif d of thedraizv bar 5 toprevenbthe h itch' parts; bec'0niing disxssemble'din exiiendlng move- 'nient; thedraw bars 6 sliding fi*eely through it. If 'th e 'hitch' becomes ;abnormallyextengled the forWa1-d ende 01 the h01'1sing members- I 0 will erigagethe safety stop 35which will-Qreventfuraber extension and the tractor pulling on the bars 5, Will:b positively Stopped although such stoppirigmovement will be cushionedby the spring 9 inasxhuch as the pull of the bars 6 to the housing is accomplished through said spring.

The invention is defined in the appended claixi1s and is 110 be cdnsidered comprehensive ofall fbrms 0i' str cture coming within their scope.

Iiclaim:. V 1.;A hitchof the class described comprising a pullihkmember and-apulled member: movable relative to ;each other;means for transmitting: a =pulli; ng ;l0ad froml;he pulling:-member to the pulled membercomprising friction clutch means engaging one of said;members and connected to the other of said membersthrough compressible v ent relative movement of said membersunder normal load meansactuated: under abnormal compres sion of said cushionmeans to partially .release saidclutch means to permit relativemovement -of said members, said releasing means also acting to maint-ain said clutch means in frictional engagemenbwith its clutchingmember to exert resistance to such movement.

2. Ahitohof :i;he class describecl comprising a;pulling member;and a ipulled member movable relative-1:0 each oher, meansfor transmitting a pullinglcad from the pulling member to the pulled member comprising friction clutch means engaging one of said members and connected-to .the other oisaid members through compressible cushion means, said clutch means acting to prevent relative movement of said members under .rxormal load,. means actuated upon abnormal r:0mpressi0n of said cushion means .to partially release said clutch means to permit relative movement of said members, said releasing means also acting to mfaintainsaid clutch means in frietional engagement with its clutching. member to exert resistanc to such movement substantially equal to the abnormal load required torelease said. clutch;

3. A hitch of the dass described comprisinga pulling memberand a pulled member, a friotion clutch shoengageable With one of said. members, means including a compressible cushion member connecting said clutch' shoe with the other of said n1embers, means for moving said clutch shoe into clamping engagement With its engaging member and means actuated under abnormal compression of said cushion memberto partially release the clamping engagement of said shoe Wth itaengaging member to permit said members to move relative 110 each other, saidreleasingmeans becoming inoi erative upon extension -ofsaid compression member.

=4. 'Ihe elements in combination defined in claim 3 combined With stop means fixed to said member engaged by said clutch shoe and engageable by a part of said. connecting means assodatedwith saicl cushion member.

5. A hitch of the dass described comprising a pulling bar anal a pulled bar locatd adjacent and movable relative to each othr, a clutch shoe in irictional engagement with the pulled ba'r, means for forcing said shoe into said frictional engagement, means for connecting said shoe with said pulling bar comprisin'gacompressible cushion member, releasing means c0nnected to said pulling and engageablewith said shoe upon abnormal compression 0'f said cushion member to partially release the clamping engagement of said shoe, said releasing means becoming ineffective upon reexpansion cf said cushion member.

G. 1A hitoh. 01" the dass describ ed comprising a pullingbar ancl a pulled bar located adjacent and movable relative to each other, a clutch shoe in frictional engagement with said pulled bar, a clutch housing, clutch engaging elements inter- .posed between said shoe and said hoi1sing, acting to move said shoe into said frictional engagement upon movement in the pulling direction of said housing relative tosaid shoe, means comprising a cushion spring connecting said housing to said bulling bar and release means connected. to said pullihg bar and engageable with said shoe upon abnormal compression of said spring acting to move said shoe relative to said hou'sing in a direction to release said frictional engagement.

7. The combination with a tractor having a power transmitting cllltch of a hitch comprising a pulling member and a pulled member, said pulled member being attached to said tractor, and said members being movable relative to each other, friction means coacting between said members and serving to prevent relative movement of said members under normal load, means acting upon said friction means under abnormal load on said hitch to partially release said friction means to permit movement of said members relative to each other under considerable frictional resistance, a clutch releasing member frictionally attached to said pulled member, means connecting said clutch releasing member to said clutch 0n said tractor and means for moving said clutch releasing member relative to said pulled member after said pulling member has moved a p redetermined distance relative to said pulled member.

8. The elements defined in claim 7 combined with manual means for moving said clutch releasing member on said pulled member toward said tractor.

9. A hitch of the class desoribed comprising, a bar, a body movable longitudinally of said bar, friction devices acting to frictionally connect said body to said bar upon exertion of power in pulling direction and. to release said body from said bar upon exertion of power in reverse direction and. means to eause said friction device to slip upon said bar under abnormal pulling load and at the same time to maintain streng braking resistance to such slipping movement throughout its length.

10. The elements defined in claim 9 in which said braking resistance maintained during slipping movement is substantially equal to the abnormal load required to cause the slipping movement.

11. A hitch of the class described comprising, a pulling member and a pulled member movable relative to each other, means for connecting said members together to prevent relative movement under normal load, said means yielding under abnormal load to permit relative movement of said members and means acting to apply a streng braking resistance to movement of said members relative to each other throughout thedistance of their movement.

1 2. A hitch of the classdescribed coniprising, a pulling member and. a pulled 'member movable relative to each other, friction means connecting said members together and preventing relative movementthereof under normal load said friction means being yieldable under abnormalload to permit relative movement of said members and said friction means acting to apply strong braking resistance to said relative movement during the extension of said parts.

13. The elements in combination defined in claim 12 in which said strong braking resistance is substantially equal to the abnormal load required to cause said members to move relative to each other.

14. I'he combination with a tractor having a power transmitting clutch and an implement drawn thereby, of a hitch comprising a pulling member attached to said tractor and a pulled member attached to said implement, said members beingmovable relative to each other, clutdh means for connecting said members to prevent relative movement there0f under normal load,

said clutch means being yieldable under abnormal load to permit relative movement of said members, means actuated by relative movement cf said members to diseng'age said clutch, and means for applying braking resistance to relative movement of said members suificient to stop movement of said tractor after disengagement of said clutch within the limit of relative movement of said members.

15. In combination with a tractor having a power transmitting clutch and an implement drawn thereby, 01 a hitch comprising a pulling' member attached to said tractor and a pulled member attached to said implement, said members being movable relative to each other a predetermined distance, clutch means for connecting said members to p'vrevent relative movement thereof under normal load, said clutch means 7 being yieldable under abnormal load to peimit relative movement of said members, means actuated by relative movement of said members 'during the first part of said predetermined distance to disengage said clutch, and means for applying braking resistance to relative movement of said members throughout all of said predetermined distance.

'16. The elements in combination defined in claim 15 in which said braking resistance is sufilcient to stop movement of saidtractor after disengagement of said clutch within the predetermined distance of relative movement of said members.

17. A hitch of the dass described comprising, a

pulling member and. a pulled member movable relative to each other, means for connecting said members together to prevent relative movement under normal load, said means yielding under abnormal load to perniit relative movement of said members in an extending direcition and means acting to 'apply a streng braking resistance to movement of said members in said extending direction, said braking means being reileasable to permit unresisted movementof said members in a retracting* direction. V

18. A hitch of the dass described comprising,

a pulling member and a pulled member movable relative to each other, friction means for counecting said members together to prevent relative movement under norm'al load, said friction means yielding under abnormal load to permit GERRIT DEN BESTEN. 

